Sunday, January 24, 2010

I want to make you aware of a Country Music Artist who is supporting homeless teens. He is taking it to the ultimate by sacraficing himself. He is walking across the US (in the winter) to show society what it is like to be a homeless child on the streets. He was 14 when he was sent out to survive! Jimmy can share his story...than so can I. Jimmy encourages you to get involved -- in whatever way you can. Maybe you'd make a great foster parent. Perhaps you could volunteer to help kids in your community. And if making a donation is more your style, anything you can contribute to the cause will be helpful. Find an organization in your own community that helps kids at risk.

Mission Statement: "Unseen Child Foundation"To stop the cycle of abuse through raising awareness of all forms of child abuse; through community involvement such as education, mentoring, life skills training and advocates for youth we will stop the cycle of abuse and make the world a safe place for children of many generations to come. Which also includes: financially supporting safe houses, mentoring programs and other services that would otherwise close due to funding.

Please help us by making a donation to the "Unseen Child Foundation" at www.unseenchild.com! You can change the cycle of abuse my looking in to the eyes of an unseen child! Through that one child many live can be changed! Look at what Jimmy has done!

Thursday, January 21, 2010

The Unseen Child Foundation's Mission Statement:To stop the cycle of abuse through raising awareness of all forms of child abuse; through community involvement such as education, mentoring, life skills training and advocates for youth we will stop the cycle of abuse and make the world a safe place for children of many generations to come. Which also includes: financially supporting safe houses, mentoring programs and other services that would otherwise close due to funding.

Help me speak in the prisons, churches and Universities to educate society on child abuse. We need to make people aware of all types of abuse that is happening behind closed doors so that the cycle of abuse can come to an end.

Saturday, January 16, 2010

“To the world you may be just one person, but to one person you may be the world.”This hit me hard when I read this! What if just one person could have said something...maybe the two-year-old would be here today....Be that one person to change the life of a child!!!!!!!

The mother of a two-year-old boy who had burns over 75 percent of his body pleaded guilty today to child abuse resulting in death in exchange for prosecutors dropping a first-degree murder charge against her.

Isela Reyes-Talamentes, 23, will be sentenced on March 19, and faces a possible maximum sentence of 32 years in prison.

The boy, Elijah Archuleta, was taken to St. Anthony's Central on Nov. 7, 2008, and was pronounced dead shortly after his arrival.

Reyes-Talamentes' boyfriend, John Vigil, 22, is charged with first-degree murder and child abuse resulting in death in the case.

His trial date has not been scheduled.

According to court documents, the couple brought Elijah to a triage room wrapped from head to foot in blankets.

A triage nurse, Gregory Busby, asked the couple how the child was burned and Vigil said Elijah was burned a day earlier while standing in a bathtub. Vigil claimed the youngster turned on the hot water and burned himself.

Vigil claimed they brought the child to the hospital because he was choking - not because of the burns.

Medical personnel spent 30 minutes trying to revive the child but were unsuccessful.

Police went to the couple's home and found Elijah's sister, four-year-old Serenity.

She told police that Vigil had burned Elijah and after doing so he started choking and died.

Serenity told investigators that her mommy was crying and upset that Elijah had died.

Reyes-Talamentes first told police that Vigil, who was serving a three-year deferred sentence for drug dealing, gave the boy a bath after he returned from a court appearance.

Later, she changed her story.

She told detectives that Vigil had picked her up from work with Elijah in the car.

She noticed that Elijah's hands and face were red. However, instead of taking the child to a hospital, she said they went to Vigil's court hearing, then went to Chipotle, and then to Wal-Mart, where they bought chips, sliced turkey and Lunchables.

After that, Vigil went and hung out with friends.

Eventually, after the Reyes-Talamentes discovered the extent of the injuries to the child, they finally took the child to a hospital.

Friday, January 15, 2010

All week I kept telling myself and others, "Stay positive, God has everything in control, everything happens for a reason, dream big and great things will happen. But, now I realize I wasn't listening to their pain. I was covering it up with quick answers and moving on through my day. So, I need to apologize to all those who have e-mailed me or called me and due to a stupid list of "To Do's" I responded quickly and moved on with my day.Yesterday everything came crumbling down!I had a conflict with one of my closest friends for the first time ever. And honestly, I didn't even see it coming! I'm sure it was because I was blindly rushing through my day not taking time to listen.Then I had several deadlines to meet and only accomplished 1/4 of what was expected. By the end of the day I realized my daughter needed me to finish up some of her Senior Year necessities and the deadline was yesterday. But, because I was trying to juggle too many tasks at once, the most important task that needed to be top on my list...was pushed down and I only accomplished 1/2 of what she needed. I am so thankful for her soft, forgiving spirit and the gifts that God gave her of knowing how to make everything work no matter how impossible it may seem. She got on the phone and was able to request an extension until 11:30 today. So, I put that task on the top of my list...then told my 12 year-old that we would have girls night tonight and the phone and the computer would be turned off!As I write I hope you are getting the idea of how crazy my life has been. But, no matter how much I cried out to God yesterday and blamed Him for everything. The reality is I didn't take time to listen to even Him. So this morning I knew I needed to stop the world and step off! I finally sat with God and listened. What I heard Him say was what I have heard so many times when my life gets out of control, "Diana, it's ok my child, I know you are hurting. You don't have to be strong with me. Come lay in my arms my child and let the tears flow. Let me take care of the rest." I finally gave him the list of failed tasks and the people I have hurt while trying to accomplish it all. At this point I finally realized that the list was written to somehow control the feelings I had inside me. The tears fell for all the pain that I have seen over the last couple of weeks! I finally stopped rushing around controlling every move I make....I finally sobbed for all the lives lost in Haiti :( And began praying for the country that has lost so much and prayed for God to hold them tightly in His arms!For all the individuals who sent me e-mails and texts saying:*I don't have a job any more!*Where do I go from here?*My husband just left and now I have children to raise alone!*The court took away my children and I need your help!*My child's sick and I don't know what to do!*Or worse, I'm sick and I don't know what's wrong?....*And the most common e-mail is,"Is the world ending? I see disaster all over! Isn't that signs of the end times?"

I humbly tell you that these are all questions that I cannot answer. But,know who can! I did the most important task of all..which is give every ones fears and pain to God.As the tears are falling with each word I type, I hand one by one each of the burdens I have carried throughout the week over to God. After I finished sobbing and praying to God this morning, I opened my e-mail and finished the last of my tasks for the week. I decided the weekend would be set aside for family and God.In one of the e-mails a good friend Teresa Weesner sent me this devotional. I hope you get as much out of this as I did =)

Road of LifeAt first, I saw God as my observer, my judge, keeping track of the things I did wrong, so as to know whether I merited heaven or hell when I die. He was out there, sort of like a president. I recognized His picture when I saw it, but I really didn't know Him.But later on when I met Christ, it seemed as though life were rather like a bike ride, but it was a tandem bike. and I noticed that Christ was in the back helping me pedal.I don't know just when it was that He suggested we changed places, but life has not been the same since. When I had control. I knew the way. It was rather boring, but predictable...It was the shortest distance between two points. But when He took the lead, He knew delightful long cuts, up mountains, and through rocky places at breakneck speeds, it was all I could do to hang on!! Even though it looked like madness, He said, "Pedal!"I worried and was anxious and asked, "Where are you taking me?" He laughed and didn't answer, and I started to learn to trust. I forgot my boring life and entered into the adventure. And when I'd say, "I'm scared," He'd lean back and touch my hand. He took me to people with gifts that I needed, gifts of healing, acceptance and joy. They gave me their gifts to take on my journey, my Lord's and mine. And we were off again. He said, "Give the gifts away; they're extra baggage, too much weight." So I did, to the people we met, and I found that in giving I received, and still our burden was light.I did not trust Him, at first, in control of my life. I thought He'd wreck it; but He knows bike secrets, knows how to make it bend to take sharp corners, jumps to clear high rocks, fly to shorten scary passages. And I am learning to shut up and pedal in the strangest places, and I'm beginning to enjoy the cool breeze on my face with my delightful constant companion, Christ. And when I'm sure I just can't do anymore, He just smiles and says..."Pedal."--Author?I think the Author is God =)God bless and have a wonderful weekend!Diana Joy

Saturday, January 09, 2010

I was honored to have the opportunity to meet Robert Jason when he showed up at our book signing with Borders Books in Nashville TN! I so wished we could have spent more time together....we have stayed in touch through e-mails and phone calls....but, something tells me we will be seeing each other again soon =) Robert is a multi-talented Songwriter, Producer, Composer, and Studio Vocalist, whose songs have been recorded by Alabama, Reba McEntire, Barry White, and Fox Brothers. Check out his site http://www.robertjason.com/.I will be posting more video's of the awesome people who have come into my life through the book tour with Borders.God bless!

I had a wonderful time in Nashville and I would like to introduce you to some of my new friends! Here is one of my good friends Becky Wright.

Here is Kim McLean entertaining us with "Pearl".

And her good friend Devon O'Day was also singing. I can't tell you how much it meant to me to have Kim, Devon and Becky show up at my book signing and sing such powerful songs! This is a memory that will never be forgotten! On New Years Eve I received a text from so many wonderful friends in Nashville saying, "Your family in Nashville loves you!" I can't wait to see what 2010 will bring! Check out these links and listen to their music!

Here is Kim, Devon and the band having fun! Stay tuned for more adventures for 2010! I will be posting some of my good buddies and their links! You have to take the time and listen to them =) Also, check out my schedule for 2010 and see who will be on tour with me!